Under Texas law and rules established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, each student applying to a public institution of higher education is classified for tuition purposes as a Texas resident, nonresident, or international student. 

A student may be eligible for classification as a Texas resident if they meet the requirements to establish domicile in Texas, as defined by state law and Coordinating Board rules. 

A U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident who does not meet residency requirements is classified as a nonresident. A student who is not a U.S. permanent resident may be classified as an international student unless they hold an immigration status that allows them to establish domicile in the United States. 

In some cases, students classified as nonresident or international may still qualify for in-state tuition through specific waivers or exceptions, as outlined in Coordinating Board rules. 

Students entering the University for the first time, or returning after an extended absence, should review residency requirements carefully to understand their tuition obligations. Residency determinations are made through the Core Residency Questionnaire and supporting documentation submitted to the Office of the Registrar. 

Students returning after an absence of more than two long semesters are required to submit a new residency questionnaire for review. 

Information and advice on residency status is available from the Office of the Registrar.